If you work in SEO, digital marketing, or website growth, you have probably checked Domain Authority (DA) or Page Authority (PA) at least once. These metrics are everywhere. Agencies use them in reports, website owners use them to judge success, and link builders rely on them to qualify prospects.
But here is the problem.
Many people use DA and PA without truly understanding what they measure, what they do not measure, and how Google actually sees them.
This guide explains Domain Authority and Page Authority from an expert SEO perspective, without myths, shortcuts, or outdated advice. You will learn what DA and PA are, how they are calculated, when they matter, when they do not, and how to improve them in a way that also improves real rankings and traffic.
What Are Domain Authority and Page Authority?
Domain Authority (DA) predicts how likely an entire website is to rank in search engines, while Page Authority (PA) predicts the ranking potential of a single page. Both metrics are developed by Moz and are based mainly on backlink quality, relevance, and overall link profile strength. They are not Google ranking factors, but they are widely used by SEOs to compare websites and evaluate link opportunities.
Domain Authority is a score from 1 to 100 that estimates how strong a website is compared to others, based mainly on backlinks and link quality. Higher scores generally indicate a higher ability to rank, but DA is a comparative metric, not a Google ranking signal.
How DA Works in Practice
DA is best used for:
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Comparing your site against competitors
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Evaluating backlink opportunities
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Tracking authority growth over time
DA is not useful for:
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Predicting exact rankings
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Measuring page-level performance
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Replacing Google Search Console data
According to Moz, DA is calculated using a machine learning model that predicts ranking ability based on link data, not traffic or content quality directly.
What Is Page Authority (PA)?
Page Authority measures the ranking strength of a specific page rather than an entire website. It uses similar link-based signals as Domain Authority but focuses only on that page’s backlink profile.
Page Authority helps you understand why:
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A blog post outranks a homepage
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A single landing page drives most organic traffic
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A deep page performs better than expected
PA is especially useful for:
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Content audits
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Internal linking strategies
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Link building for priority pages
Domain Authority vs Page Authority: Key Differences
Domain Authority measures site-wide strength, while Page Authority measures the ranking power of a single page. A site can have high DA but low PA on new pages, or low DA but high PA on a well-linked article.
| Factor | Domain Authority | Page Authority |
|---|---|---|
| Scope | Entire domain | Single page |
| Influenced by | All backlinks | Page-specific backlinks |
| Best use | Competitive analysis | Page optimization |
| Changes | Slowly | Faster |
Understanding this difference helps you avoid a common mistake: judging a page’s potential only by the domain score.
How Domain Authority and Page Authority Are Calculated
DA and PA are calculated using backlink data, including link quality, relevance, diversity, and spam signals. The score uses a logarithmic scale, which means growth becomes harder as scores increase.
Core Factors That Influence DA and PA
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Quality of linking domains
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Relevance of backlinks
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Link diversity
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Spam score indicators
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Internal linking structure
Moz recalculates DA and PA as its index updates, so your score can change even if your site stays the same.
Are DA and PA Google Ranking Factors?
No. Google does not use Domain Authority or Page Authority as ranking factors. However, the signals behind them, especially backlinks, do influence rankings.
Google representatives have repeatedly stated that they do not use third-party metrics. Still, DA and PA remain valuable because they correlate with ranking strength when used correctly.
Think of them as diagnostic tools, not ranking guarantees.
What Is a Good Domain Authority Score?
A good DA score depends on your niche and competition. For small businesses, DA 20 to 40 is normal. Established brands often exceed DA 60, while global authorities can reach 80+.
General Benchmarks by Website Type
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New websites: DA 1–10
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Small businesses: DA 20–40
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Growing authority sites: DA 40–60
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Industry leaders: DA 60–80
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Global brands: DA 80–100
Always compare DA within your niche, not across unrelated industries.
How to Improve Domain Authority and Page Authority
You improve DA and PA by earning high-quality, relevant backlinks, strengthening internal links, publishing authoritative content, and avoiding spammy link practices.
Practical Steps That Actually Work
Earn High-Quality Backlinks
Focus on links from relevant, trusted websites rather than chasing volume.
Strengthen Internal Linking
Link important pages from authoritative content within your site.
Publish Link-Worthy Content
Original research, tools, guides, and data-driven content attract natural links.
Remove or Disavow Toxic Links
A clean link profile supports long-term authority growth.
Be Patient and Consistent
DA grows slowly. Sudden jumps are rare and often temporary.
Common DA and PA Myths You Should Ignore
DA is not a Google score, higher DA does not guarantee rankings, and buying links to increase DA often causes long-term damage.
Myths to avoid:
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“Higher DA always means higher rankings”
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“DA can be gamed safely”
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“DA matters more than content”
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“New pages cannot rank on low DA sites”
Tools to Check Domain Authority and Page Authority
You can measure DA and PA using trusted SEO tools, including:
- Bulk DA PA
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Moz Link Explorer
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Ahrefs (Domain Rating equivalent)
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SEMrush (Authority Score)
If you want a quick analysis across multiple domains, a bulk authority checker saves significant time and helps with competitive research.
Real-World Example: DA vs Rankings
A local service website with DA 28 can outrank a DA 70 national site if:
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Content matches search intent better
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Page is locally optimized
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User engagement is stronger
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Backlinks are more relevant
This is why DA should guide decisions, not control them.
References
Call to Action
If you want to track, compare, and grow your website authority the smart way, start by analysing your site alongside competitors and strengthening pages that actually drive traffic. Authority grows when strategy, content, and links work together.
Explore your SEO metrics, refine your internal linking, and build authority that search engines and AI systems trust.
FAQs
Q1: What is Domain Authority in SEO?
Domain Authority is a third-party metric created by Moz that predicts how competitive a website is in search results based mainly on backlink quality and relevance. It is used for comparison, not as a Google ranking factor.
Q2: What is Page Authority and how is it different from DA?
Page Authority measures the ranking potential of a single page, while Domain Authority measures the overall strength of an entire website. A site can have high DA but low PA on new or weak pages.
Q3: Does Google use Domain Authority or Page Authority?
No. Google does not use DA or PA as ranking signals. However, the factors behind them, such as backlinks and authority, do influence Google rankings.
Q4: What is a good Domain Authority score?
A good DA score depends on your niche. Small and new websites often range between 10–30, growing sites fall between 30–50, and authoritative brands usually exceed 60.
Q5: Can a low DA website rank on Google?
Yes. Websites with low Domain Authority can rank well if their content matches search intent, targets low-competition keywords, and earns relevant backlinks.
Q6: How can I improve my Domain Authority?
You can improve DA by earning high-quality backlinks, publishing authoritative content, improving internal linking, and avoiding spammy or low-quality links.
Q7: How long does it take to increase Domain Authority?
Domain Authority usually improves over months, not days. Growth depends on link acquisition quality, consistency, and competition within your niche.
Q8: Is Page Authority more important than Domain Authority?
For ranking a specific page, Page Authority is often more relevant than Domain Authority. Google ranks pages, not domains, so page-level strength matters most.
Q9: Why does my DA drop even when I did nothing?
DA can drop when Moz updates its index or when competitors gain stronger backlinks. It does not always mean your site lost authority.
Q10: Should I focus on DA or real SEO performance?
You should focus on real SEO performance like traffic, rankings, and conversions. DA should be used as a benchmarking and comparison metric only.